On Being a Husband and Father

My chief joys in this life have been serving as a husband and a father.  Nothing else has been so wonderful, so satisfying.  There have been difficult periods, and substantial failures on my part; but despite those challenges, I remain a husband and a father to the core.  It seems to be my nature.  It's just what I do. 

I'm not painting myself as a great family man.  The substantial failures I mentioned above were ... substantial.  I still make mistakes and have shortcomings that must be addressed.  But I take so much joy in providing for my family, and seeing them thrive, that I can't imagine wanting to be a bachelor again.  If anything, I just want to be a better spouse, and a better dad.  For years, I put work first.  I worked hard, and didn't have the common sense to leave work at the office once I came home.  My dinner conversation was often about problems with colleagues, or about concerns with upcoming work events.  Sheer and complete foolishness. 

Leave work at the office or shop, and embrace your personal life during the hours away from your job.  If you must take work home, set strict parameters and time limits.  Whatever you do, do not let it consume your life.  You'll never get that wasted time back.  Spend as much time as you can with family and friends.  If you have no family and friends, go find some.  Find people to love. 

I am blessed with a beautiful family.  It's not perfect, and we experience very real problems like everyone else. During the last several months I've learned to appreciate my loved ones in ways I never did before, and I have made a commitment to myself and to God that I will not take my family for granted again.  My work is important, but it will never be as important as my family.